Year Five The Perfect Goodbye Plan novel Chapter 82

It was just an engagement party—so why did she feel as nervous as if it were her wedding day?

As Silvia tried to steady herself, her phone vibrated. Seeing Finn’s name flash across the screen, she answered immediately.

“Hey, what’s up?” she asked.

There was a pause on the other end. Finn’s voice sounded flat, almost irritated. “Shipley showed up. Came to the Ashford house himself this morning asking for an invitation—said he wanted to attend the party.”

Shipley had originally been on the Ashford family’s guest list.

But after Finn tried texting and calling him several times with no reply, he’d assumed Shipley wasn’t coming, so he hadn’t bothered sending the invitation to Luminova City.

Finn had figured his old friend just wasn’t interested.

He hadn’t expected Shipley to turn up in person, asking for the invitation on the very day of the event.

If Shipley had come alone, Finn might have been happy.

What bothered him was that Shipley, knowing the Ashford family’s history, had insisted on bringing Vianne along. That felt like a slap in the face.

“Alright, I get it,” Silvia replied quietly.

She hung up and frowned, her thoughts racing.

Just yesterday, Shipley had been borderline hysterical, demanding she come back to Luminova City. Now he was here in Capital City, showing up at her engagement party...

Her eyelid twitched. A sense of foreboding settled over her.

Knock, knock.

Someone rapped at the door again.

Without thinking, she called, “Come in.”

Swallowing down a wave of nausea, Silvia shoved his hand away.

She looked up, her stare frosty and biting as she glared at him. “Shipley, don’t make me sick to my stomach.”

He blinked, caught off guard.

For a moment, the familiar teasing light faded from his eyes.

Then, suddenly, he fished the invitation from his pocket, tore it to shreds, and tossed the pieces to the floor. “The invitation isn’t real. None of this is real! This whole party—it’s just your way of trying to win me back.”

Silvia didn’t respond. Her hand slid quietly toward the table, searching for her phone. She needed to message someone—anyone. As long as someone came to get Shipley out of here.

“That night at the restaurant—you think I stood you up on purpose? I didn’t. I only found your letter last night. I had no idea you’d been thinking about all this. But now I know.”

Shipley pulled out a crumpled piece of paper, his voice urgent and pleading. “Sweet Silvia, just come home with me. If you want, I’ll marry you right now... okay?”